Author: britianyann1

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:45 pm

Well my story begins with a car accident leaving me near death and forever I thought on opiates and other medications. I was 24 then 44 now and finally I was placed on a pain pump with a newer drug called Prialt. Sea Slug poision. It is a Godsend. I have been almost bed bound for many of these years. And, now, I have returned to the living.

I was taken off IM demerol and Morphine, with a rapid detox and then placed on sub (wish the dr.’s had told me my options pertaining to sub being an opiate that I would have to face the horrors of w/d again). So for the past two years I only have had sub. in my system. When able to have pain pump implanted I was told I no longer required opiates. Ever again… Yea.

So in June I hopped on the taper wagon. From day 1 I have had insomnia. I am so lucky to get 2-4 hours. Until exhaustion hits and then I am able if lucky to get one night of 6. It is now Oct. Sleep deprivation I think causes so much of the mental issues of detoxng. My skin burn like it has a sunburn (this is the worst of my w/d’s the one that has made it so I can’t jump yet). The runs, sneezing, can’t concentrate, mood’s that swing from hot too cold. No rls but I think it is the only one I haven’t had. Oh the muscle aches, and I have this each and every taper. Thank the powers that be when I take my dose 2 hours later the burn will stop for awhile. Then I balance out again, and the next day start another taper.

Now, I have to say that this is so minor compared to coming off of Demerol. I was sent to the hospital with convulsions. Gave me seizure, never had one till Demerol. However, coming off of sub is one of the biggest challenges I have ever had to place myself into. I have to allow myself to suffer and know here it comes again. I know my neighbors look over and say there is that crazy girl who screams in pain and maybe us if her mood takes her. I haven’t been able to go in public and feel safe my moods jump too much. I would have lost my job, but with all my medical issues and being on this other drug now, which who know could be adding to my w/d’s. But, it all started when I began to taper. I am so jealous of all those who say how easy it is.

I have discovered, while reading about others tapers, that the longer you were on opiates the harder the taper. I have a feeling it coincides with PAWS. You pay as hard you play. You don’t know till you are on the trek.

Yes, liquid taper as soon as you can does help you get a true and set dose. I didn’t realize it I am actually down to .125 and waiting to stabilize. I am so excited. Though, I too noted that the lower I get the longer it takes to stabilize… But, I tried to jump at .25 and I was tore up. I went 3 days but was screaming from the Burning I am having. Like all the nerves I have are awakening and telling me they didn’t like what I had done to them. Took me a lot longer to get regulated again, still trying but I am almost there.

Now I haven’t decided, and it sucks not knowing, whether I should do another 10 percent or just start adding time between dosing. I find that I hurt much less on the latter. My withdrawals are fewer because it is a slower taper. I take meds every 12 I will extend it to 14 for a few days then 16, 20, 24, 28 then hopefully off or until I can. The way I feel, decisions are difficult and the consequences severe. The mistakes I have made during this tapering, like trying to use sub patches to get me off was a disaster. Lost an entire month of benefit. We all should be on them instead though better system, much less medication needed because of its constant flow.

I will continue to post when I am actually able. I should be making, I hope, the decision of which taper to follow from here. Please give me any advice you may have in any area of my postings.

By the way, does anyone know how long it takes for sub to leave our systems at .5 mg and less? I know that 4 mg. goes to 2 mg. to 1 mg to .5 to .25 and Junig says a 8 mg. dose it takes 5 intervals of 37 hours to leave. For .5 would it .5 to .25 to .125 etc. ??? So, it too still will take the same duration of time??? I am confused…. Won’t it stay until it hit 0? That would mean it stay much longer at larger doses…. Never was able to find out really and decent information pertaining to half life.

Thanks for the info…..